After several minutes of awkward small talk, the Prince took his leave.
As he walked out of the hall, he glanced back at the figure, suddenly feeling like he had achieved nothing.
The mont the Sixth Prince left, the atmosphere finally relaxed, after all, it had just been too awkward.
Louis stretched lazily, gazing at the sky outside the window, murmuring, "Frost Halberd City, I’ve stayed in this city long enough."
Lambert, as if already prepared, imdiately handed over a cup of hot red tea: "Exactly half a month, My Lord."
"Maybe one more day," Louis took the cup, leaning back in his chair, "It’s been long enough. It’s ti to go ho."
"Spring plowing, the establishnt of a new mining area, post-war reconstruction progress, now relying only on letters to convey orders. You know, these aren’t sothing Bradley can personally monitor for ."
Lambert nodded, knowing well the importance of the Red Tide Territory to Louis.
Louis stood up, donned his cloak: "Let’s go. It’s ti to say the final farewell to the Governor."
The Governor’s Mansion remained quiet, only with doctors and servants bustling about.
In the council hall, the old Duke Edmund sat on the high-backed chair, in front of him the latest batch of post-war damage statistics and supply applications.
"You’re here." He saw Louis, his eyes slightly moved.
"My Lord, I must take my leave." Louis said straightforwardly.
Edmund nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit, then said, "I originally wanted you to stay. To make the New Frost Halberd City a hub, take up my unfinished responsibilities, and consolidate the Northern Territory."
He didn’t emphasize his tone, nor did he use words like "command."
Even though he is still the Governor of the Northern Territory, he understands that this young man before him is no longer a subordinate waiting for command.
"I know." Louis looked at him calmly, "But I cannot."
"Reason."
"The entire Northern Territory is shattered, water conservancy, transportation, granaries all broken down, relying only on Empire allocations is insufficient for reconstruction. If I directly take over the Northern Territory now, it will only drag myself into the mire." Louis paused, "I must return to the Red Tide Territory. Start from the Southeast, concentrate resources for developnt."
"You wish to establish a new order?" Edmund spoke softly.
"I wish to establish a self-sustaining polity." Louis replied calmly, "A base that can truly support the entire Northern Territory."
Silence spread between the two for several monts.
"...Do you know." He suddenly spoke softly, "Our Edmund Family has been rooted in this land for three hundred years."
"Back then, Frost Halberd was just a winter hunting camp. My grandfather told , his grandfather, dug the first well in this valley, cooked porridge, and fed an entire territory."
He paused, a hint of fatigue appearing in his eyes: "But in my generation, fought six wars, three insect plagues, one insect plague, directly ravaged the Northern Territory. This city, can’t even defend a decent gate tower anymore."
Louis stood silently, listening to him finish, not daring to interrupt.
For the first ti, he saw this old general, incisive in council, cold as a blade in the military formation, show such apparent fatigue.
"Of course I know you’re right." Edmund turned to look at him, his tone cald, "From strategic location, resource allocation, to labor density and order foundation, the Red Tide Territory is the most suitable starting point for reconstruction.
But I still want... still wish to see Frost Halberd City lit brightly again one day, do you understand this thought, Louis?"
"..." Louis stood up straight, slowly spoke: "I understand, Duke. Though I don’t have that ability yet, nor can I undertake the responsibility of reconstruction for the entire Northern Territory."
"But I assure you." He looked into those old eyes, speaking each word clearly.
"One day, I will definitely rebuild Frost Halberd City. Not as a subsidiary of Red Tide, but as the true heart of this Northern Territory."
Silent for a mont, Edmund suddenly smiled, his smile sowhat bitter, yet sowhat relieved.
He gazed out at the snow-covered towers, "You are right, this city is not the future, I was being sentintal."
"I hope you don’t resent for being selfish." Louis spoke softly.
"Resent?" The Duke coughed a few tis, his tone even carried a hint of laughter, "I do not fear your selfishness. I fear you’re not ruthless enough."
"Since you’re returning to the Red Tide Territory." He turned, his gaze steady on Louis, "Take the Broken Blade Knight Order back with you."
Louis was stunned, yet to react, he heard him continue: "After I die, there are still the Cold Iron Knight Order, the Silver Fang Knight Order. Totaling close to five thousand knights, will also be under your command."
Louis froze, seemingly not understanding for a mont.
That wasn’t so ragtag army, but the elite among the Northern Army’s powers, mastering these three corps would make him the undisputed first in the Northern Territory.
"...My Lord Duke, this." He instinctively clenched his fists, incredulous.
Edmund rely gazed deeply at him, his eyes penetratingly sharp: "I don’t have much ti left. Little Isaac is still young, Alina isn’t skilled in political maneuvering. Once I’m gone, the entire family would be torn apart."
His tone nearly a whisper: "I hope you won’t let them down."
The firelight reflecting, Louis’s gaze gradually deepened, his chest feeling as if weighed down by sothing heavy.
First surprise, then a surge of indescribable emotion.
"I understand. My Lord Duke, please rest assured." Louis stood up, kneeling on one knee, his voice steady and strong: "The day Little Isaac grows up, I will return these three knight orders intact to his hands.
For he is the true heir to the Northern Territory. In the na of the Dragon Ancestor, I swear here."
"I believe you."
Edmund’s hand trembled slightly, yet firmly pressed on the table, as if suppressing the last trace of hesitation.
This was a gamble, wagering the entire Edmund Family, but he chose to trust the young man before him.
......
In the twilight, before the council hall of Frost Halberd City.
Duke Edmund stood on the steps, cloaked heavily, still holding onto his usual dignity.
Yet under the candlelight, that sturdiness could no longer hide his frailty, like an ancient castle on the brink of collapse, struggling to maintain its last shred of dignity.
"Let’s go." He looked at Louis, then turned to Emily, his voice steady yet hoarse.
Emily gazed at her father, her eyes moist.
But her father just gently reached out, patting her shoulder: "You are already soone’s wife and about to beco a mother. Frost Halberd City is no longer suitable to nurture new life, go back."
She bit her lip, finally lowering her head: "I understand, father."
As the carriage slowly exited the city gate, the wheels rumbled over the gravel.
Emily looked back, the distant tower standing solitary, her father’s figure gradually fading into the twilight.
Louis reached out, holding her cold fingers, softly said: "Don’t worry... we’ll often return."
Emily gently nodded, tears streaming down, but remained silent.
She didn’t know, her husband’s heart was heavier than hers at that mont.
Louis didn’t tell her, the Duke had only half a year left to live.
So this farewell was not only temporary, but perhaps the last eting between father and daughter.
Louis and Emily sat side by side in the heavy carriage.
The compartnt, upon Edmund’s orders, was laid with soft rugs, the curtains half drawn, outside light penetrating with a hint of red.
Emily quietly leaned on her husband’s shoulder, her hand resting on her still flat belly, her gaze passing through the gap to the outside.
Seeing the knight formations marching in unison along the long street.
At the forefront were two hundred elite knights of the Red Tide Territory itself.
Behind them the orderly iron current of the Broken Blade Knight Order, over a thousand knights, their armor reflecting cold light in the morning light, resembling a forest of steel.
The Red Tide’s red banners flapped high, fluttering fiercely, burning like flas in the wind.
The hooves thundered, wheels rolled slowly, the entire formation resembling a giant red dragon, winding out of Frost Halberd City, heading towards the Red Tide Territory.
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